Between 2002 and 2008, London cabbie John Worboys, jailed for life in 2009, carried out more than 100 rapes and sexual assaults using alcohol and drugs to stupefy his victims.

Many of his victims were young women who had been drinking in trendy night spots in the West End and Chelsea.

Now he has been released after originally being sentenced to a minumum of eight years inside. 

His release was contingent on the Parole Board deeming him to no longer pose a threat to women. 

The Parole Board said: "We can confirm that a three member panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Mr John Worboys, following an oral hearing.

"The arrangements for Mr Worboys' release will be managed by the Ministry of Justice."

He was found guilty of assaulting 12 women during an 18-month reign of terror in the capital.

The following year police said a number of women had come forward since he had been behind bars, and that his alleged victims now numbered more than 100.

The cabbie offered female victims Champagne spiked with powerful sedatives to celebrate a fictional lottery win, backed up with a carrier bag stuffed full of cash.

The drugs left the women unable to protect themselves as he pounced on them in the back of the vehicle.